YS school district treasurer put on leave; board votes not to renew contract

UPDATE (Sunday, May 12): School board President Steve Conn said Sunday, May 12, that language in the resolution placing district Treasurer Dawn Bennett on leave is legal “boilerplate,” and “no complaint” has been made against Bennett, nor is there any investigation.

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Yellow Springs schools Treasurer Dawn Bennett was placed on paid administrative leave, and her contract, which expires July 31, was not renewed in votes taken by the Yellow Springs school board after an executive session at the end of the regular board meeting Thursday, May 9.

In separate resolutions, the five-member board voted unanimously first not to re-employ Bennett at the conclusion of her current contract, and second to put her on paid administrative leave, effective immediately, “to investigate claims of potential misconduct,” according to the resolution specific to the leave. (School board President Steve Conn has since said that the language in the resolution is legal “boilerplate” and “no complaint” has been made against Bennett, nor is there any investigation.)

The board gave no further explanation Thursday evening for its actions, and made no comments in taking the votes.

The board then approved a resolution naming Joy Kitzmiller, a former local district treasurer who currently serves as treasurer in the nearby Cedar Cliff district, to serve as interim treasurer.

All three resolutions were effective immediately. Bennett is concluding nine years as district treasurer.